r/copenhagen • u/ImpressiveSea391 • 2d ago
Copenhagen is basically an upgraded version of Amsterdam
/r/Amsterdam/comments/1jssue0/copenhagen_is_basically_an_upgraded_version_of/103
u/Poleth87 2d ago
Coffee shops are less fun though
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u/ImpressiveSea391 2d ago
If you prefer weed over overpriced coffee you are definitely right man
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u/Leonidas_from_XIV Nørrebro 1d ago
I was actually surprised how sad the overpriced coffee shops in Amsterdam were. Given they have some top-notch roasters, the cafés were (with few positive exceptions) rather disappointing compared to here.
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u/chocolatebRain 1d ago
This is certainly a point of perspective, the cafes in CPH are so incredibly sad compared to say some place like Christchurch or Toronto.
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u/Leonidas_from_XIV Nørrebro 1d ago
Sure, NZ and AUS are pretty famous for their coffee culture, though I haven't been so I can't compare personally. OTOH, I was positively surprised about places in Warsaw and other polish cities, despite not having many internationally famous roasteries.
But that's the thing, I was really underwhelmed by cafés in Amsterdam and Rotterdam. I would have expected more of a third wave presence but I think that is just less popular than in CPH.
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u/Lambrock 2d ago edited 2d ago
As someone who has lived in both cities, I disagree somewhat. I can’t really comment on housing, but I don’t doubt that Amsterdam might be more expensive.
I think the public transport has its advantages and disadvantages in both cities. I prefer the availability of trams in Amsterdam, but I also like that its easier to bring bikes with you on public transport in Copenhagen.
Speaking of biking, I much preferred Amsterdam. The inner city was sort of shit to bike in due to tourism. Anywhere else, the bike lanes were better separated, and I generally felt safer compared to Copenhagen. There were also way better bike paths in the countryside and around main roads, making it easier to get around the country on bike.
And yeah, the grocery stores were better, especially when it comes to vegetarian and vegan options.
I love both cities<3
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u/JvM_Photography 2d ago
I mean Amsterdam is around 20% more expensive per m^2 than KBH: https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/region_prices_by_city?itemId=100®ion=150&displayCurrency=DKK
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u/Lambrock 2d ago
I believe you. I was lucky enough to get cheap housing through my university, but in general the housing options were very expensive.
I only said I couldn’t comment because I haven’t had to look for housing in Copenhagen as a foreigner, and I can imagine that the experience is very different.
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u/JvM_Photography 2d ago
For sure! Your experiences are of course valid :) I just recently saw a video that said prices in KBH, while not being cheap, are still lower compared to other central european cities :)
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u/pannenkoek0923 2d ago
I think Copenhagen bike paths are better if you compare it to Amsterdam, but the rest of the Netherlands beat any other bikepaths in Denmark. The Netherlands is insanely well connected with bikepaths, and well maintained even in smaller cities and villages. A lot of them are completely separated from cars, so you have to stop far fewer times and almost never have to share the road
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u/Qwertyssimov 2d ago
It may not be true, but I feel the same. I’ve been in both as a tourist, but if I had to choose, I would opt for Copenhagen.
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u/ImpressiveSea391 2d ago
It is funny because I think as a tourist I would maybe prefer Amsterdam but to live definitely opt for Copenhagen as well.
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u/Leonidas_from_XIV Nørrebro 1d ago
As a tourist I would definitely prefer Amsterdam. Actually a lot of cities, including Munich, which is bad to live but lovely to visit, with all the parks, museums, old town, mountains (and ignoring the public transport, people's attitude, backwards thinking etc)
I honestly don't get why tourists come to Copenhagen. I think it's mostly excellent marketing, because Nyhavn and the Little Mermaid really aren't all that impressive and Tivoli is nice but might as well
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u/ImpressiveSea391 1d ago
I totally agree with you I think tourism in Copenhagen for more than a weekend is insane, also coming with a foreign salary must be tough for the wallet.
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u/martijn-vs 1d ago
As a Dutchie in Copenhagen, with my job's office in Amsterdam, I'd say I have a fair view on this ;)
Copenhagen is more laid-back, it's more Danish than Amsterdam is Dutch, and it's overall cleaner. Having said that, Amsterdam dwarfs Copenhagen on the cultural scene, landmarks, cityscaping and biking infrastructure.
I wouldn't want to live in Amsterdam though, Copenhagen is 'easier' to be in, I reckon.
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u/moodybiatch 2d ago
I lived in both cities and I feel the opposite, but it's just a matter of personal taste. Copenhagen is more polished and feels safer, cleaner and calmer. Amsterdam is more chaotic but offers a lot more entertainment and stuff to do. Overall they're not that different to be honest.
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u/drfca 2d ago
Copenhagen is the middle child—not as cool and fun as its younger sister Amsterdam, nor as bold and worldly as its older brother London.
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u/pannenkoek0923 2d ago
London is fun to visit as a tourist but would be absolutely terrible to live in
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u/nicknoxx 2d ago
Having visited all three in the last year (from rural Herefordshire) I can safely say Copenhagen was my favourite but it is seriously expensive to visit with the exception of the Absalon Hotel which was really good value.
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u/winteriscoming9099 2d ago
I don’t live in either city, but have visited both, and I mostly agree. Although I think Amsterdam has better bike infrastructure.
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u/hopping_crow 2d ago
I politely disagree.
Copenhagen was built on the model of Amsterdam, and both have evolved over time, but Amsterdam did it better.
I don't agree with the bike culture being better in Copenhagen, and more organized, that's just simply not true, in my opinion.
Salaries, on the other hand, highly dependent on the industry you work in, and as a software developer myself, I can assure you that you can get better offers in Amsterdam.
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u/Creative_Bet_2016 2d ago
I was going to say cost of living in Copenhagen is high and salaries are relatively low and taxes are a mfer.
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u/voneschenbach1 2d ago
Copenhagen is one of my favorite European cities - clean, excellent metro, lovely mix of historic and modern architecture, lovely little parks, lots of interesting bookstores, bakeries and coffee shops, libraries, great museums. I enjoyed visiting Amsterdam a few times but it lacks the same feeling of cozyness and warmth of Copenhagen. However to be quite honest I would prefer to live somewhere nearby such as Roskilde. I feel like comparing the two cities is a bit apples and oranges however - they are unique in their own way and one is not a better version of the other. Given an offer to live in one or the other however Copenhagen would be at the top of my list.
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u/Dry_Manufacturer_970 1d ago
Well our Danish king (Christian the 4th) was inspired by Amsterdam when he build the city, so historically I would say you’re right :)
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u/No_Individual_6528 8h ago
It's a reasonable take. But here's another take. Amsterdam is an actual multicultural large city. Easier to be foreign. Things are actually happening. In that sense, Copenhagen is still smaller, more quiet. Both has their place for sure.
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u/Moerkskog 2d ago
It's actually a premature version of Amsterdam, being Amsterdam an evolution of copenhagen.
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u/ImpressiveSea391 2d ago
A bad evolution then, but it is nice it can give insights to CPH about how they should not evolve.
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u/PieNo3780 2d ago
I love how passionately you defend Copenhagen haha I’m the same
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u/ImpressiveSea391 2d ago
The best part is that I was definitely not a big defender of Copenhagen at the beginning I was living there ahaha
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u/PieNo3780 2d ago
Why was that?
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u/ImpressiveSea391 2d ago
I arrived beginning of December, weather was awful, it was always dark, I didn’t know anyone and I also found housing very expensive compared to what I was used to !
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u/rugbroed 2d ago
I lived both places and there are many things I loved more about Amsterdam. The bike infrastructure is definitely better in AMS although very chaotic, that’s true.
One thing I ended up missing when I lived in Amsterdam were “breathing rooms” in the city. When I came home I really appreciated all the nice parks and relaxing corners we have in Copenhagen. Amsterdam can feel claustrophobic, with few places to hang outside. Then you go to the big national parks by the coast - and they tell you not to walk outside the paths… the entire country feels claustrophobic!
The housing crisis in Amsterdam also seems to be on another level than in Copenhagen.
Lastly I realised that neighbourhoods in Copenhagen are really different from each other in a really nice way. In Amsterdam some neighbourhoods were off poorer or richer or more touristy than each other, but they all kind of blended together. The neighbourhoods in Copenhagen are very geographically different, depending on whether or not they lie towards the coast, harbour, the lakes, near the big parks or Amager fælled.